First, the Senators GM will watch his team. Then, he'll likely look around to see what other teams have to offer up.

After learning top centre Jason Spezza is gone until the playoffs because of back surgery, the Senators GM held off on rushing to his office and sending out an e-mail to the league's 29 other teams indicating he's ready to start shopping.

"It's very difficult," Murray said at Scotiabank Place Thursday. "You can't replace high-end skill very easily. I don't think there's another team that will call me when I go back to my office and offer help. That's not how we work in our business."

With five games in eight days starting Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, Murray and his staff will have a good idea where the Senators stand by the time Hockey Day in Canada wraps up next Saturday.